Community, wherever you live...

Last year, when we went shopping for a new house in the Houston-Metro area, one of the most culturally diverse cities in the nation, we knew that we wanted to live somewhere, where we could "do life" with our neighbors. Previously, we had lived in the suburbs of southeast Phoenix, in a nice middle class neighborhood in Chandler. There we felt shut off from our neighbors, as they shut their garage doors. There was no way that we were going back to that lifestyle. Now, we were on a hunt where we could live in community with people of different races, backgrounds, and life experiences, somewhere our kids could learn what sparing and sharing was all about. This desire led us to look within the inner city and the old 'wards' of downtown Houston. Eventually, to our dismay, we had to widen our search. The wards were just too dangerous for our growing family of six. We "settled" into a quaint neighborhood on the southwest side of Houston proper, vowing that "one day" we would be able to move inward. For months, I was in anguish over our decision. Everyone on our block had cars, and everyone had garage doors (to shut). For the first couple of months, when I talked to my justice minded friends, I would always feel a bit ashamed, that we couldn't make the plunge, and that we had to settle with Braeburn Valley, which is really just an inner ring suburb that has a Houston address. Then it got a bit cooler in Houston, and pretty soon our little cul-de-sac on Del Rey Ln. sprung to life.

I am happy to say that I no longer feel ashamed of my address. I know each one of my neighbors, (who are very diverse) and we are learning to do life together. Each week we gather for a family meal, a potluck of sorts. It's a bit awkward at times, but it's community.

The fact of the matter is, that we are called to do community, wherever we live. Even though I would rather hang out with physically needy people, God has me on Del Rey Ln. for a reason. And just because it's not where I feel the hippest and most radical, it's where He wants us for now.

let's pray together

Dear fellow missioners,

One of the most fun and spiritual enriching things about doing the Lord's work is getting to commune and pray with some of the country's most amazing people in ministry. Unfortunately, it never seems to last long enough. We all have our own missions, cities, and families to get back to.

What if there were more time? Just for us. To pray, eat, share, and dream. What could the Lord do with us in a weekend, where we weren't "working" or "serving" with one another, but simply coming to Him, intentionally, for an outpouring of new vision for ministry and evangelization in this country? Don't you think we owe this to ourselves? To our God? To the people we serve? I do.

This is not a commercial. This isn't a last ditch effort to boost our numbers. This isn't about any one ministry or any one name (although we could drop some names). This is about a community of evangelists and ministry leaders from across the country coming to seek Him in a great time of need. The ADORE Worship Summit is about you and I getting that time we need and desire.

If you think this is going to be just another conference, give me a call and I'd be happy to explain why it isn't. You seriously don't miss this epic weekend, September 4-6 in Houston.

For registration and event info - www.adoreworship.com - and click on the summit graphic.

I love you all dearly, and I hope to see you in Houston. Please feel free to forward this on to anyone else.

peace+

ennie